Rip envelope



Patented June 6, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RIP ENVELOPE Harry I. Nevin, Sr., Anderson, Ind. Application December 8, 1941, Serial No. 422,165 1 Claim. (01. 2 29-86) This invention relates to a rip envelope and has for an object to provide an envelope having a folded tab located within the upper portion of the envelope and stitched at its fold to the fold of the sealing flap of the envelope, the tab and thread being exposed by pinching off a corner of the envelope so that the end of the tab and thread may be grasped to rip open the sealing flap of the envelope and expose the contents of the envelope without hazard of mutilating the same as often occurs when envelopes are cut open by paper openers and similar tools.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be formed of a few strong, simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily et out of order.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of an envelope constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the sealing flap open and the tab exposed.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the envelope with the sealing flap closed.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the envelope showing the stitching and tab being pulled outward to rip open the envelope at the fold of the sealing flap.

Figure 4 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and showing the folded tab stitched at its fold to the fold of the sealing flap.

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of an envelope showing the tab stitched to the fold of one of the end flaps of the envelope.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, an envelope is shown having a front Ill, end flaps II, a bottom flap l2, and a sealing flap l3 adapted to be folded over the end flaps and adhesively secured thereto in the usual manner.

In carrying out the invention, a folded tab it of substantially frustum contour, and preferably formed of inexpensive fabric, although other material may be used, is located within the upper portion of the envelope and is stitched at its fold, by a line of stitching I5, to the fold of the sealing flap Hi. The tab is adapted to contain advertising material, or other matter, as shown at It in Figure 3. The tab and thread of the line of stitching extend to the ends of the sealing flap so that a corner I! of the sealing flap may be pinched off and grasped firmly to pull the tab and line of stitching as a unit to rip open the sealing flap at its fold.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figure 5 in which the sealing tab I8 is stitched to the fold of one of the end flaps l9 of the envelope instead of to the sealing flap.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

In combination with a paper envelope having a folded closure flap integral therewith along a fold line, an elongated piece of fabric folded longitudinally and having its fold fitted against the inner side of the flap fold, and a line of stitching extending the full length of the flap fold line and the fabric fold to secure the latter to the flap fold so that the fabric and the line of stitching may be pulled through the flap'fold to rip the envelope open, the said folded fabric being of trapezoidal shape so that the portion at the fold line can be extended adjacent to the ends of the envelope flap fold and the side portions of the fabric disposed Within the envelope.

HARRY I. NEVIN, SR. 

